Delosperma Plant Named &#39;W1813&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Delosperma plant named ‘W1813’ that is characterized by its low growing plant habit, its very floriferous and long blooming flowering habit; blooming from early summer to early autumn, and its flowers that are bright orange-red in color with small yellow centers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2021/1405 filed on Jan. 6, 2021, under 35 U.S.C. 119(f), the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein. This application is also co-pending with a U.S. Plant Patent Application for a plant derived from the same breeding program entitled Delosperma Plant Named ‘W1811’ (U.S. Plant patent pending*).

*(Applicant gives the examiner the authority to replace the U.S. Plant patent pending with an Application No. or Patent No. if applicable and delete this statement.)

Botanical classification: Delosperma nubigenum.

Variety denomination: ‘W1813’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma nubigenum ‘W1813’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘W1813’. The new cultivar of Delosperma is an evergreen perennial grown for container and landscape use.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. The overall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars of Delosperma plants with a unique range of flower colors.

‘W1813’ was selected in the Inventor's trial garden in May of 2018 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from crosses between unnamed and unpatented plants from the Inventor's breeding program. Seeds were pooled from the crosses and therefore the exact parentage is unknown.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings in September of 2018 by the Inventor in Katsuta-Gun, Okayama-Pref., Japan. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘W1813’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘W1813’ exhibits a low growing plant habit.     -   2. ‘W1813’ exhibits a very floriferous and long blooming         flowering habit; blooming from early summer to early autumn.     -   3. ‘W1813’ exhibits flowers that are bright orange-red in color         with small yellow centers.

‘W1813’ can be most closely compared to the Delosperma cultivars ‘WOWDOY3’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,600) and ‘W1811’. Both are similar to ‘W1813’ in having a low growing plant habits and floriferous and long blooming habits. ‘WOWDOY3’ differs from ‘W1813’ in having flowers colors that are lighter orange with larger yellow centers, less flower production, and flowers that are slightly smaller in diameter. ‘W1811’ differs from ‘W1813’ in having flowers that are vivid dark red in color.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR

The Applicant asserts that no publications or advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale, or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor. The Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date. Disclosures include but may not be limited to website listings by Concept Plants and Plantipp (both are the breeder's representative for licensing), Globeplanter, and YouTube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The plant in the photograph is 6 months in age as grown in a 9-cm container in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a top view of ‘W1813’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of ‘W1813’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 6 month-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in 9-cm containers in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with the 2015; reprint 2019 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Blooms from early summer to early autumn in             The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Evergreen perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Flattened, prostrate.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches an average of 9 cm in height and             about 26 cm in diameter as a 6-month old plant in a             container and reaches, 10 to 15 cm in height and 70 to 80 cm             in spread in the landscape.         -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy to at least U.S.D.A.             Zone 7.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility or resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Root development.—8 weeks for root initiation, 4 months from             rooted cutting to young plant in a P9 container.         -   Growth habit.—Moderate. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Round.         -   Stem color.—Young stems; 145C upper side strongly tinged             with 182B, older stems 196C to 196D.         -   Stem size.—Lateral branches; an average of 10 cm in length             and 2.4 mm in diameter.         -   Internode length.—An average of 3 mm.         -   Stem substance.—Succulent.         -   Stem surface.—Moderately glossy, moderately pubescent with             very short glandular hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length             and closest to 155C in color.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching both basal and lateral, an             average of 14 lateral branches per stem. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular in diameter.         -   Leaf substance.—Succulent.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface (upper and lower surface).—Slightly glossy,             sparsely to moderately pubescent with very short glandular             hairs; an average of 0.2 mm in length, 157D in color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper and lower surface; 138B, mature             upper surface 137B and lower surface; 137C.         -   Leaf size.—About 2.6 cm in length and 4 mm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 12 (6 pairs) per lateral branch.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary, terminal.         -   Flower number.—An average of 1 per lateral stem, per plant;             59 open flowers, 27 flower buds.         -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.         -   Flower aspect.—Outward to upright.         -   Flower longevity.—A few days, self-cleaning.         -   Flower type.—Single.         -   Flower size.—Average of 3.5 cm in diameter and 1.3 cm in             depth.         -   Flower buds.—Broadly ovate to oblong in shape, an average of             1 cm in length and 5 mm in diameter, color; 138A with sepal             portion 145B.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 5 mm in depth and 1.5 cm             in diameter.         -   Sepals.—5, rotate, ovate in shape, margin entire, an average             of 7 mm in length and 3 mm in width, broadly acute apex,             broadly cuneate base, surface is smooth and dull, color             young upper and lower surface; 138A, base 145B, color mature             upper and lower surface; 143B to 143C.         -   Petals.—An average of 46 per flower, rotate and slightly             curved downward, narrowly oblanceolate in shape, surface is             smooth and glossy on both surfaces, margin entire, apex             obtuse, base cuneate, an average of 1.5 cm in length and 1.5             mm in width, color; opening and fully open flowers upper             surface; 34A and 34B, base NN155C, opening and fully open             flowers lower surface; 34A and 34B.         -   Petaloids.—An average of 20 per flower, rotate and near             vertical surrounding stamens, lanceolate in shape,             moderately to highly glossy on both surfaces, margin entire,             apex obtuse, base truncate, an average of 7 mm in length and             1 mm in width, color immature and mature upper and lower             surface; NN155C, top 14B.         -   Peduncle.—Average of 1.7 cm in length and 2 mm in diameter,             straight on top of lateral branch at 0°, color; a blend             between 144B and 145C, surface moderately glossy, sparsely             to moderately pubescent with very short glandular hairs.         -   Pedicel.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—5, an average of 2 mm in length, stigma; triangular             shaped, style and stigma; (not distinguishable) combined an             average of 2 mm in length and 151B in color, ovary; 143C in             color.         -   Stamens.—Average of 60, 12A in color, anthers; dorsifixed             and narrowly oblong in shape, an average of 0.5 mm in             diameter, filaments; 4 mm in length, NN155D in color,             anthers; NN155D in color, pollen; moderate to high in             quantity and 6A in color.         -   Fruit.—Fruit and seed production was not observed under the             conditions tested. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named ‘W1813’ as described and illustrated herein. 